Pope Francis has called on political, economic, and business leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos to maintain close oversight of artificial intelligence, cautioning that the technology could worsen the growing “crisis of truth.”
In a written message read on his behalf by Cardinal Peter Turkson, a Vatican official, the Pope acknowledged AI’s potential but stressed its ethical implications. “The results that AI can produce are almost indistinguishable from those of human beings, raising questions about its effect on the growing crisis of truth in the public forum,” the pontiff said.
The Pope urged governments and businesses to act with “due diligence and vigilance” in navigating the complexities of AI, emphasizing the need to prioritize humanity’s future over technological advancement.
His message aligns with the WEF’s focus this year, which includes discussions on the ethical and societal impact of AI.
Francis, leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church, has been vocal about AI’s ethical challenges in recent years. At the Group of Seven summit in Italy last June, he warned against allowing algorithms to dictate human destiny.
The Pope’s stance has also been shaped by personal experience with AI-related challenges. In early 2024, a viral deepfake image generated by AI falsely depicted him wearing an ankle-length white puffer coat, highlighting the dangers of misinformation in the digital age.
